Greenways are corridors of protected open space managed for conservation and recreation purposes. Greenways often follow natural land or water features, and link nature reserves, parks, cultural features and historic sites with each other and with populated areas. Trails are paths used for walking, bicycling, horseback riding or other forms of recreation or transportation. Some greenways include trails, while others do not.
Trails and greenways positively impact individuals and improve communities by providing not only recreation and transportation opportunities, but also by influencing economic and community development. This fact sheet, produced by the Trails and Greenways Clearinghouse (a joint project of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and The Conservation Fund's American Greenways Program) describes some of these benefits.
